Aspirin Warning, Diabetes Breakthrough, Folic Acid in Flour, Urinary Incontinence, Breastfeeding and Cot Death, Sex Selection in China, Food Allergies, Dyslexia

DRUG WARNING - ASPIRIN BAN FOR UNDER 16’s

In 1986, all aspirin products had to be labelled to show that they shouldn’t be given to children under the age of 12 years. This was to prevent a rare but often fatal illness called Reye’s syndrome, which causes liver failure in children with a fever who are given aspirin. Since the ban the number of deaths from Reye’s syndrome has dropped dramatically but a small number of deaths are still occurring, some in the 12 to 16 year old age group. For this reason the Government is suggesting that no children under the age of 16 be given aspirin (paracetamol and ibuprofen can be safely used instead and there is no danger for adults) and products will be labelled to comply with these guidelines in the next few months.

In the meantime parents should avoid aspirin unless specifically recommended to take it by their doctor (it is used to treat some forms of childhood arthritis). The label may call aspirin by its chemical name of salicylic acid. It is also present in some teething gels and anti-dandruff and cradle cap shampoos and solutions. These should be safe but if you are concerned check with your doctor before using them. Read Curb on aspirin use in the under-16s in the Guardian.

DIABETES BREAKTHROUGH

Research in Britain published this week in the journal ‘Diabetes’ shows that children newly diagnosed with diabetes have high levels of antibodies to Coxsackie B4 virus. It has been suspected for some time that infection may play a part in the development of diabetes and if a specific virus that seems to predispose to type 1 diabetes is found there is the possibility of using vaccinations to reduce the risk of diabetes. Read New virus link to diabetes raises hopes of vaccine from the Daily Telegraph and you can read the original paper in the online journal. For general information on the onset and treatment of diabetes and links to child-friendly support groups read our section on diabetes.

FOLIC ACID IN FLOUR

Folic acid supplementation in pregnancy is known to help prevent spina bifida and other congenital abnormalities such as heart defects in the developing foetus. It is recommended that mothers take folic acid supplements for at least a month before conceiving and during the first few months of pregnancy. However many mothers, and sadly this group usually includes a lot of teenage mothers and mothers with low socio-economic status, do not follow this advice. To counteract this it has been suggested that folic acid be added to flour so that as a population we do not suffer from folic acid deficiency. This would be similar to the addition of iodine to salt to prevent thyroid problems, and, more controversially, fluoride to water to prevent tooth decay.

The Food Standards Agency this week decided not to fortify flour. In America, flour has been fortified with folic acid for three years and is thought to reduce the incidence of heart disease and strokes. Read this persuasive letter in the Times from the pro-fortification lobby. The Food Standards Agency is worried that folic acid supplementation could mask a type of anaemia in elderly people – you can read their point of view at Food Standards Agency and UK Health Departments encourage debate on fortification of flour with folic acid.

URINARY INCONTINENCE AFTER VAGINAL BIRTHS

Around a third of women who give birth vaginally end up with some degree of urinary incontinence. The incidence is reduced if mothers see a physiotherapist soon after the birth to discuss bladder control and pelvic floor exercises. There are no simple solutions but the problem is discussed at length in this week’s British Medical Journal. Read postpartum urinary incontinence. If you suffer do ask your GP for a referral to a physiotherapist – doing pelvic floor muscle exercises correctly does help some mothers (although only 7%) – the alternative treatments include the use of vaginal pessaries or surgery to reposition the bladder.

BREASTFEEDING CAN REDUCE COT DEATHS

A study from Sweden published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood (ADC) shows that breastfeeding can reduce the incidence of cot death but it does not have as strong a protective effect as putting a baby to sleep on his or her back. Read a report in the Independent and the original article from the ADC. And read cot death.

SEX SELECTION IN CHINA

To add to the debate about the lengths parents should be allowed to go to have a ‘perfect’ baby is the news that in China there are 117 boys being born to every 100 girls. In affluent areas this ratio rose to 136 boys to every 100 girls. While it is normal in nature for more boys than girls to be born (usually around 103 boys to every 100 girls), the figures from China must suggest selective termination of female babies. This is obviously aggravated by the one child policy but has apparently led to girls being kidnapped for marriage as there are fewer brides available. Read about sex selection in China.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Food Allergies

For a discussion of the level of over-diagnosis, read Food allergies are hard to digest, and also our section on food allergy.

Dyslexia

See an extremely controversial article in this weekend’s press about the dyslexia culture suggesting that we over-diagnose boys who are just slow to read. Read Blinded by a word and also this thought-provoking reply All children can become skilled readers. Also see our section on dyslexia.